Suprematist Composition, painted by Kasimir Malevich in 1915, is considered a masterpiece of the Suprematist movement. This radically new mode of abstract painting moved away from any reference to reality and consisted of basic geometric shapes floating on white backgrounds. Malevich declared that Suprematism was a new “realism” in painting, portraying the essence of the subject rather than its physical attributes.
Malevich viewed Suprematism as both an art movement and a philosophical way of thinking. The purpose of art was not to serve any political idea or ideology but to be useless and focus purely on form, color, and composition. While Cubism presented abstraction in art for the first time, Malevich believed that it did not go far enough in simplifying forms.
Suprematist Composition: White on White is perhaps one of the most revolutionary paintings created during this period as it depicted a white square layered over another white square on a similarly colored background. It was said that this painting represented the ultimate reduction of geometry into pure energy since shapes seemed weightless underneath negative space.
Overall, Suprematist Composition showcases an innovative movement that brought forth a revolution in modern art with its pure form devoid of political and social truths.
